NAIROBI, Kenya- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is set to officially launch the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) new Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS)-ABIS Version 5 at the agency’s headquarters along Kiambu Road.
The launch is expected to significantly improve the processing of Police Clearance Certificates, commonly known as Certificates of Good Conduct.
This marks a major technological upgrade for the DCI, replacing the existing Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System (APFIS) with a more advanced multi-biometric platform designed to speed up identity verification and enhance the accuracy of criminal records searches.
According to the DCI, the MBIS-ABIS Version 5 will enable faster biometric matching, allowing applications for Certificates of Good Conduct to be processed in as little as one day, down from the previous waiting period that could stretch to two weeks or longer.
The system is expected to improve service delivery by using advanced biometric identification technology capable of processing and matching fingerprints more efficiently, reducing backlogs while strengthening the integrity of Kenya’s criminal records database.
The rollout is part of the government’s wider digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising public services and improving efficiency across law enforcement agencies.
The DCI says the upgrade will provide applicants with a faster and smarter service while enhancing the agency’s investigative capabilities.
The Forensic Fingerprint Identification Bureau, which serves as Kenya’s national repository for criminal records, will be among the key beneficiaries of the new platform.
The bureau plays a critical role in maintaining fingerprint records and supporting criminal investigations through forensic identification.
The DCI has described the MBIS-ABIS Version 5 as a “game-changing” platform that will not only enhance public service delivery but also strengthen the country’s forensic and investigative capacity through modern biometric technology.